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View Full Version : Old mallet didn't fit my hand



steven c newman
07-02-2014, 5:30 PM
So, I had a piece of Spalted.....whatever wood292277actually, this is the leftover half. Cut the blank into a couple 11" long blanks. Chucked the other blank up into the lathe. The old Craftsman, "T" railed older than dirt lathe, and it's EOM chisel set. Fastened the lathe to the top of my workbench. In the Dungeon Shop, there just ins't room for extra machines, and thier dedicated bases. Fastened the lathe down so it wouldn't walk away. Started to dig around for the old mallet, to use as a pattern. Oh well, get started with out it... Got a basic round cylinder done, and THEN found the old mallet. The grip on the old one was a little too scrawny for my hands. made a few lines to mark out where the grip was to be. Got close, sanded it down to smooth. Tried the size of the grip while sanding, too. Parted off one end, and sanded that smooth as well. Took it upstairs and added a dark oil finish/stain. let it dry in the setting sun awhile292278still a little dark, so a wipe down to remove some of the finish292279and now, you can see the grain better. The old scrawny mallet is laying down. Mallet is 11" long, maybe 2-3/4" in diameter at the headend. And, it even fits my hands! maybe an hour of work....cost? It IS scrap wood, afterall. :D

Marc Tuunanen
07-03-2014, 6:53 AM
Looks like spalted maple. Good looking mallet mate!

cheers

Brian Blackburn
09-22-2014, 10:33 AM
I have turned a few mallets, different sizes for different needs. Your work looks good, hope you enjoy yours as much as I do mine.

Jim Koepke
09-30-2014, 6:11 PM
Looks like a nice carving mallet.

I have turned a few mallets but prefer the flat face models like my cherry mallet and my big ash mallet:

297624

I also had a big birch mallet but one end of that was reconfigured to be a meat tenderizer and sold at the farmers market.

jtk

James Combs
09-30-2014, 8:13 PM
Nice job on the mallet. Curiosity question, most mallets I have seen(not many I must confess) have a flat striking surface in the length. I notice yours is turned with a contour, Is that a help in striking its target?

steven c newman
10-01-2014, 2:25 PM
I seem to like the roundy one. The way I swing a mallet? Being round focuses my "aim" a bit more. I also watch the grain on the mallet, about like using a ballbat, .....hit a sweet spot. No signs of any cracks...yet. Seems to be about a 2 pounder in weight. Biggest thing for my was a nice, FAT handle. Fingers can get a better grip on it.

Ted Reischl
10-07-2014, 10:26 PM
The round shape is usually a carvers mallet. It is amazing how a person will consistently hit the tool correctly on a rounded surface.

Rich Riddle
10-13-2014, 9:52 AM
Nice looking mallet. Does the spalting make the wood weaker in the spalted areas?

steven c newman
10-13-2014, 6:59 PM
Haven't noticed any difference, so far.